It’s Day 2 of Bloggy B-Card Week! If you missed it, be sure to catch yesterday’s post about what to put on a blogger business card.
Today’s post comes from my good friend Fadra (more about her at the end but I’ll tell you that it’s pronounced Fay-dra).
I almost titled this post, “If That’s Your Business Card, I’m Scared To See Your Blog.” It’s much easier to pick out the negative than focus on the positive. It’s especially easier to do when you’ve freshly returned from a conference and have a whole stack of business cards to wade through.
Along with Melissa, I attended the Type-A Parent conference in Asheville, NC this past weekend. I’m pretty happy to say that almost everyone had a business card to hand out. I even got a card from the blogger who first introduced herself as a “baby blogger” and then quickly changed her description to an “in utero blogger.”
(I was slightly confused about what she blogged about but quickly realized she was referring to the fact that she was a new blogger who hadn’t even launched yet.)
Based on Melissa’s post, What to Put on a Blog Business Card, if you’re a blogger that wants to be seen as a professional, you know you need to have a card. Hopefully, you also have a pretty good sense of what to put on the card.
So what’s next?
Let’s knock out a card in Microsoft Publisher and hurry on down to Kinko’s to have it printed, right?
Wrong.
In fact, it’s wrong on many levels. First of all, there are no more Kinko’s. They are all called FedEx Office now. But you knew that. Secondly, don’t use MS Publisher for anything if you can avoid it. And thirdly, Fedex-Office-Kinko’s-local-office-supply store is not an ideal place to get your business cards. And I’m gonna tell you why.
The quality of your business card is a reflection of you, your blog and your professionalism. I know some of you don’t want to hear that. You don’t want to be judged by that little tiny card. You want people to go to your blog and see what a warm, wonderful writer you are. The problem is, if your card isn’t memorable, no one may ever go there.
There are some key things to consider when designing and printing your business cards. And they don’t all have to cost a fortune.
Design
As you know, Melissa has an excellent eye for design and I love the honest and constructive blog critiques she offers up every week (and kudos to those of you brave enough volunteer!) I won’t pretend to be a professional designer here and I understand that not everyone can afford one. However, keep in mind a few simple things when constructing your card.
- Don’t crowd the card. Too much information is simply too much.
- Don’t use more than 2 or 3 font styles.
- Watch your font sizes. Your sizes may print much larger or much smaller than you anticipate. If in doubt, print the actual business card design in the actual printed size on a printer to verify, or order a proof from your printer.
- If you’re using photographs, use high-resolution images. It keeps the pictures from looking too pixelated or blurry.
- Don’t use copyrighted images!
- Use color (but use it effectively). Full color photos are fine but the rest of your card should follow a color scheme.
- Leave white space. People often take notes on your business card when they meet you. Make sure you leave room for it.
And finally, if you do nothing else, make your design consistent with your blog! Use the same logo, or photo, or colors, or fonts. But make it part of the experience of who you are.
A note about templates: Many online printing companies offer pre-designed templates for business cards. While they aren’t my first choice, if you are looking for an attractive card with a professional look and are on a tight budget, consider using a template. Just be sure to select a design that you think corresponds to your overall blog theme. Then customize with fonts and colors, if possible.
Printing
Hooray! You now have a business card all designed. It looks good. You like the colors. You have all the right info. Now, is it time to go to Kinko’s? NO! I have nothing against on demand printing. In fact, I love it… when I need something on demand. But we’re telling you all this business card stuff so you can plan in advance and have fantastic cards!
Don’t ruin a good design with bad printing. Here’s where it can go very right or very wrong.
- Pick a thick sturdy paper.
Finding the right paper (or cardstock) can be a super confusing issue. Different print vendors use different measurements. Some measure paper weight in pts (points) and some do it in lbs (pounds). How do you know which one is better?
FedEx Online Printing typically offers 80 to 100 lb cardstock for printing. UPrinting.com offers 13 or 14 pt cardstock. Wouldn’t it be great if they used the same measurement? This paper weight comparison chart tells you that the 100 lb cardstock translates to 11 pt cardstock (roughly). Much thinner than the 13 or 14 pt cardstock. Bottom line? One is thin and flimsy. The other is a fairly sturdy weight. Make sure you compare apples to apples when looking at cardstock.
- Choose the right finish.
What does the “right” finish mean? That depends (of course). Typically, you’ll be offered a choice between glossy, matte, and uncoated.
Glossy is just as the name implies. It’s glossy. It’s shiny. It’s smooth. It’s also hard to write on.
Then there is matte. Matte is usually considered coated cardstock. It doesn’t have a glossy finish but it is very smooth. It’s a little easier to write on.
And finally uncoated is exactly as the name implies. It’s a typical paper texture. It’s very easy to write on but the color is duller than a glossy or matte finish.
So how do you know which one to choose?
Base it on your preference, your design, your style and your budget.
- Select a shape and size.
It used to be that business cards came in one shape: rectangle. These days, they can be round, square, slim rectangle, standard rectangle and more. Typically, the crazier the shape, the more expensive the card. When you get a standard-sized business card, printers are able to print and cut a large batch at one time for pretty cheap. For odd shapes, you may need a die-cut card and you will pay more. Also remember that many people put cards in standard-sized card holders and that odd-sized card can easily get lost or fall out in a stack of cards. Decide how important the size is to you.
- Go for quality printing.
Laser printing at home can be okay if you have the right settings on your printer. But you’ll probably have to use perforated card paper which can leave a messy edge. You also won’t be able to do a full bleed (when the printing goes all the way to the edge of the card).
While your local printer may be convenient, he’s probably going to be more expensive and possibly not the best quality. I recommend buying from an online printer where the overhead is less and the savings is passed on to you.
Okay. Now take a deep breath. Are you still with me?
I threw a lot at you. And I’m sure plenty of you are thinking that you don’t have the money to buy expensive business cards. They don’t have to be expensive. They have to be professional and a reflection of you, the blogger, as a professional.
Fadra Nally left the world of corporate marketing and fell quite accidentally into the world of blogging. These days, she divides her time between three different blogging endeavors. She writes about the world around her on her personal blog, all.things.fadra. She co-manages and contributes to a blog about the secret society of motherhood, AndNobodyToldMe.com. Finally, she’s put her knowledge to good use by consulting with businesses on social media and the art of engaging with bloggers through Social Dialect. When she’s not behind the computer, you’ll find her at home in North Carolina with her husband, young son, toy poodle, and fat cat.
Where Can You Buy Blogger Business Cards?
UPrinting.com (where I bought my cards)
MOO Business Cards (this link will get you free samples so you can test them out)
Tiny Prints (lots of great templates)
By the way, a few of these links are affiliate links but I hope the content I provided was worthy of a click.
This post was part of a week-long series of blogger business cards. If you want more b-card goodness, check out What to Put on a Blog Business Card, Seven Trends in Blogger Business Cards and QR Code Ideas for Business Cards.
Momcomm gives blogging chicks practical, can-do tips for writing, blogging and using social media (and sometimes a snarky rant).
I'm a mom who loves marketing, photography and all things social media. I have two boys whose claim to fame is that they were born on the same day... three years apart.
Twitter: Lindsay_Blogs
says:
All excellent tips and great advice. I love the look and feel of a glossy standard-size card over an uncoated circular card or something crazy like that. I want all my cards to stack!
Twitter: allthingsfadra
says:
I’m kind of with you. I don’t mind rounded corners or vertical printing but I’m partial to the standard business card size.
Thanks for this post! My web designer will be creating a business card for me soon, so I’m reading Mommcomm this week with interest. I made business cards in the past, but wasn’t happy with the quality. I think they were uncoated, so I’ve been thinking I need to have a glossy b-card. But maybe it was a paper weight problem? I’d like people to be able to write on the card, but I want them to look professional. Can an uncoated b-card look professional if the weight is good? Perhaps I should go with the matte finish?
Thanks again!
Sandy
Twitter: allthingsfadra
says:
If I had to pick ONE thing to focus on, I’d say paper weight. It makes such a huge difference in the quality of the card. I actually got some nice uncoated cards. They were a good weight, but the color isn’t as bold and they aren’t always quite as durable. It’s absolutely the best for writing on the card but I’m partial to a matte finish personally.
Twitter: homesteader
says:
Lovin’ this series! Quick question: if you don’t recommend Publisher to make your cards- do you have another program that you would recommend? Something like PhotoShop or GIMP? I’d love to have mine professionally designed, but that’s probably not gonna happen anytime soon.
Thanks for this awesome series!
Twitter: allthingsfadra
says:
Great question! I personally use Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop. That’s not necessarily a cheap option either if you don’t already own the software. I used Uprinting.com (I don’t get anything out of recommending them because there are a lot of good vendors out there) and you can either upload a completed design or they give you the option to “design online.” If you have high quality images/graphics, you can use their program to set up the layout and add your text. I know many other quality online vendors will do that too.
Twitter: JameeTMiller
says:
I need to get sent come business cards so I know the difference between glossy & matte so I can make my decision for my design! LOL
Twitter: allthingsfadra
says:
Great question. I personally use Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop. That’s not necessarily a cheap option either if you don’t already own the software. I used Uprinting.com (I don’t get anything out of recommending them because there are a lot of good vendors out there) and you can either upload a completed design or they give you the option to “design online.” If you have high quality images/graphics, you can use their program to set up the layout and add your text. I know many other quality online vendors will do that too.
Twitter: allthingsfadra
says:
Sorry – I sent the wrong reply to your comment. You actually made a great point that I meant to mention. Start collecting business cards you like. It can be from bloggers or local businesses. When you find one you like, incorporate some of what they have into your card. If you are unsure of what’s what, ask the person who’s card you like. They’ll be more than happy to share!
Twitter: allthingsfadra
says:
Great question. I personally use Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop. That’s not necessarily a cheap option either if you don’t already own the software. I used Uprinting.com (I don’t get anything out of recommending them because there are a lot of good vendors out there) and you can either upload a completed design or they give you the option to “design online.” If you have high quality images/graphics, you can use their program to set up the layout and add your text. I know many other quality online vendors will do that too.
Twitter: EvolvingMommy
says:
Great tips Fadra. I need to up my business card game but it seems like an overwhelming task to start from square one again. Thanks for helping me out though.
Twitter: allthingsfadra
says:
I wish I’d seen your card! You have a great design on your blog so if you haven’t already, I’d incorporate a lot of that (great photos, especially!)
Twitter: meagothystompy
says:
Another great post.
I’ve ordered glossy in the past, but didn’t like how no one could write on them. I like the look of matte, but I ordered a sample once and noticed that if I wrote on it using ink that was not ballpoint, it took a long time to dry and usually smeared. Consequently, all my cards are non coated, though not the most spectacular.
Twitter: allthingsfadra
says:
You’re absolutely right. It’s a trade-off. I personally don’t write on cards so I never gave it much thought. I happen to use a lot of color on my card so I chose the matte finish. You *can* write with ballpoint. Just might take a little more effort.
BTW, I saw some pretty cool uncoated cards from this conference. Hope Melissa shares some later this week!
Great info, Fadra! I’ve been looking at a site for printing and keep uploading my Photoshop design just to “see” how it would look. I’m shying away from the odd shapes for exactly the reason you gave: don’t want my card being the one that gets lost in the shuffle!
Twitter: allthingsfadra
says:
Funky shapes are definitely memorable. People definitely look at it when you hand it to them (I still remember a round card I got from a year ago). But I personally like a nice neat stack and I’m glad the mini-card trend seems to have faded. I always dropped them!
Twitter: osvme
says:
lucky for me i don’t have to worry about all that business card stuff
Twitter: allthingsfadra
says:
Not saying every blogger HAS to have cards, but I’ve used it even as a way to keep in touch with a new mom I met at Chick-Fil-A!
Twitter: EverythingEvie
says:
Great info, Fadra! I bought business cards to hand out at Bloggy Boot Camp back in May, and got them from Tiny Prints. They were on quality paper, matte finished, and from a template that I tweaked to fit my blog’s design. I would normally take the time to design them myself in AI, but I forgot about BBC until the week of and had to scramble to get them ordered. (I blame mommy-brain for that. Wait, I blame mommy-brain for everything…ah well.)
I have to say, I saw several cards that were obviously printed at home, and they don’t look as professional, which is sad because when I visited their blogs, they were awesome. You’re right on the money Fadra, they have to be professional! By the way, I’d been pronoucing your name like “FAH-DRA,” sorry about that.
Twitter: allthingsfadra
says:
I’ve never worked with Tiny Prints but I know plenty of people that have and love them. I would never have known their cards are based on templates until I found out recently. They are quality cards and it does make a difference.
As it turns out, I think I’ve been saying your name correcting all this time
Twitter: bcIMthemommy
says:
Good post. I now need to re-evaluate my biz cards.
Twitter: allthingsfadra
says:
My best advice is to find something you really like and then emulate it. You ARE a professional. It’s okay to treat yourself like one!
Twitter: notthecar
says:
Great post and yes glossy can be terrible. I am a business card writer so i always feel bad when cards are glossy. I did have glossy cards at Type-A on purpose because i was going for event only cards. I will not hand these out somewhere else except maybe a tweetup.
Twitter: allthingsfadra
says:
Kia – you brought up a great point. I have seen people with “event only” cards and it’s a great idea. I remember getting a card with someone’s info and on the back it said something like “We met on 06.05.11 at ABC event.” Really kind of a neat idea.
From a novelty perspective, I LOVED your cards!
Twitter: RichsGoodFood
says:
Perfect timing!! Im just in the middle of finally designing a proper card
No more home printed ones for me ! Im moving on up 
) Hahaha
Great advise, thank you !!
Twitter: allthingsfadra
says:
I guess you realized that we can tell when it’s printed at home
Good luck with your new cards!!
Twitter: alexcampbell11
says:
I went to local blogger event & kept putting off getting my cards done & had to do them myself & had them printed up at Fedex Office. I loved the design but hated the print quality because I told them heavy heavy glossy finish. But I ended up getting a very thin paper type card. Ugh. This time for Blogher I’m going to be better prepared.
Twitter: allthingsfadra
says:
The problem with FedEx Office is that you can get decent emergency cards. They just don’t happen to carry or use heavier cardstock. You probably got the best quality you could from them but they have limitations. Paper thickness always says quality to me (even if it’s a bad design – shhhhh)
Twitter: FoundtheMarbles
says:
Ironically, when I came home from TypeA I grabbed all the cards I had received and put them in a pile. Two which I placed at the top were cards that I thought were most appealing because their simplicity caught my eye. I kid you not that those two cards belong to you, Fadra, and to Melissa. Time to redo my cards!
Twitter: allthingsfadra
says:
Awwww, man. I could not have paid you for a nicer compliment!! I actually really liked your cards too!
Twitter: myafwifelife
says:
Hey! Someone on Facebook posted a link to this blog post, and for the past hour I have been reading posts all over your blog! Thanks so much for all the writing, blog, and twitter tips! I have learned a ton, and shared a bunch of your posts too!
Twitter: mommywords
says:
I have on my list Business Cards but I change my mind so often I print my own. They are just black and white with my blog font and while I do not hate them, I crave the matte cards. However, I always notice people writing on my cards so we shall see.
I am definitely having the cards for my new site professionally done but it is easier because it has a real logo and all that fancy stuff.
Great tips! As usual babe!
Twitter: allthingsfadra
says:
I think it’s great to keep it simple and change it up. The real downside to printing at home is the thickness of the paper. For me, when I first hold the card in my hand, I can tell right away if it’s quality. But you seem to be doing okay anyway
Twitter: Goodgirlgonered
says:
Great tips! I went with a pre-made design as i got the free from Mabel’s Labels a while back and had no active plans to use them. So while they didn’t mesh with much, i knew the color scheme of the flowers matched with what I wanted t have my scheme be, etc. Anyway, I ilk emu cards cause they seem go be ME! And while others may get them, they kind of stand out anyway, or so I seem to think, since everyone else has funky ones that they create, I am different because I don’t create them!
Twitter: Goodgirlgonered
says:
And man, my iPad decided to go all wonky and my comment is scratched up. Whoops. Sorry!
Twitter: domesticmissy
says:
What’s bad about Microsoft Publisher, and what should one use instead?
great content !
There is also free business cards creator that you can use try http://free-business-card-templates.mobi/ to for them
roy recently posted..Hello world!
Twitter: LynikaCruz
says:
Loved this post, this is my first time here but I’ll definitely be back. Actually I’m not even going to leave yet, I need to potter around some of the other posts, afterall not only did I learn some stuff from your post here..but I got good laugh too. Bonus! Thanks